BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday stressed the party’s commitment to peace in Bangladesh while highlighting key priorities ahead of the upcoming 12 February national election.
Addressing an election rally in Rajshahi, Tarique said the change that began on 5 August must reflect the people’s will and translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives.
“The 12 February election is crucial. Today, we must decide the direction Bangladesh will take in the coming years,” he said, urging voters to ensure the country continues on the path of democracy.
While speaking at the rally at Rajshahi Madrasa ground, Tarique outlined a series of initiatives aimed at benefiting farmers and boosting agricultural production. He announced that under a BNP-led government, agricultural loans of up to Tk10,000, including interest, would be waived for farmers.
He pledged the construction of a Padma Barrage in Rajshahi to secure reliable irrigation facilities, along with cold storage facilities for mango farmers and the revival of the Barind irrigation project.
Recalling past achievements, Tarique said canal excavation programmes were first launched under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and large-scale irrigation projects during former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s tenure had significantly enhanced agricultural output in northern Bangladesh.
He criticised the prolonged delay of a major Padma River irrigation project, which has an independent budget of nearly Tk1,000 crore, alleging that it had been intentionally stalled over the past 16 years. “Our goal is to fully revive this historic project and restore it to operational capacity,” he said.
Tarique assured that the irrigation benefits would extend beyond Rajshahi. “Farmers from Rajshahi to Panchagarh will benefit from this project,” he added, noting that increased agricultural production would translate into higher incomes for farmers.
“When farmers thrive, Bangladesh thrives. We want irrigation water to reach every corner of the north so that mothers and sisters engaged in farming can achieve prosperity,” he said.
Tarique also announced that alongside family cards for women, farmers would receive agricultural cards to facilitate access to loans, fertilisers, seeds, and other farming inputs.
In addition, he pledged the establishment of a specialised hospital and a vocational training institute in Rajshahi, and said a BNP-led government would fully support agriculture-based industries to strengthen the rural economy.
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